Travel Vaccines

Making plans to go somewhere this time of year? Falling sick on holiday or when you return can spoil a perfectly planned holiday, so it helps to get the necessary protection.

If your destination brings you to another country, it helps to know basic health precautions such as not eating raw and exposed foods, drinking only bottled water and washing your hands frequently.

You may want to consider getting yourself vaccinated against some common communicable diseases such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Typhoid and Meningococcal. Planning ahead is necessary as these vaccines must be taken several weeks in advance to provide effective protection during your travel. Here is what you need to know about these diseases:

HEPATITIS A

What is it: Infection caused by Hepatitis A virus that affects liver function. Children may carry the disease for a longer time, while death rates are higher in infected people above 50.

Transmission: Contaminated food, drinking water and contact with infected persons

What is it: Life-threatening liver infection caused by Hepatitis B virus that is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV. Affects almost 2 billion people worldwide, resulting in about 600,000 deaths annually.

What is it: Potentially fatal infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. Smokers, people with respiratory tract infection, HIV/AIDS, anaemia and malnutrition, Haj or Umrah pilgrims are most at risk.

Transmission: Droplets from coughs and sneezes of infected persons, close contact such as kissing